Dr Andy Mycock, a reader in politics at the university, also believes the crucial vote will end in the narrowest of victories for the No campaigners.

But Dr Mycock said he has been shocked by the fervent nationalism on show in the run-up to the referendum.

“I was in Scotland a few days ago doing research for a study of the Orange Order and went along to marches and demonstrations by the Yes campaigners and was it was the first time I had felt uncomfortable,” he said.

“There is a fine line between fervent and febrile and I saw nationalism on one of those marches I have not seen anywhere else in the UK.

“There is a very energised Yes campaign and if it is a very close No vote as I predict, their sense of injustice will not be satisfied.

“I think perhaps the biggest single issue has been over currency. Neither side has been able to give details as to how it will work and they have not appreciated how much it means to other people in other parts of the UK.

“There has been a real anti-English feel to part of the campaign and that has been bizarre”.

Prof Brendan Evans, professor of politics at the university, said the referendum was too close to call.

He said the momentum had swung from one side to the other over the past few weeks and the margins are changing all the time.

“It has not surprised me as much as some other people,” he said. “I think there has been a growing sense of national identity and many of the Government policies have been deeply opposed.

“There is a real sense that in recent times the Scots have not had the Government for which they voted and that has been compounded by a growing sense of national confidence.

“I will be watching closely on Thursday evening”.

The NHS is set to be a crucial factor in Thursday’s vote.

That was the view of Prof Peter Bradshaw, professor of health policy at the university.

He said the Scots would have to think very carefully about how they could provide health care as currently they are very different to the English system.

“The NHS is going to get more expensive as more of us live longer and Scotland has had it very differently up to now,” he said. “Social care is free in Scotland at the minute, there are no prescription charges, there is little or no private involvement in the NHS and they don’t have to pay hospital parking charges.

“I don’t think they will find it easy to run an NHS model like they have now if they go it alone.

“My gut feeling is that the No campaigners will win as I feel the Scots are perhaps more conservative then they let on and would prefer to stick with what they know.”

Colne Valley Tory MP Jason McCartney said: “It’s going to be very close but I hope that we have a ‘No’ vote. We need to stay together.

“The big talking point to come out of this will be more devolution, hopefully for the north and for Yorkshire.

“As a proud Yorkshireman I will always campaign for more investment in this region. We have seen a lot in recent years but we want to increase it even more”.

Would you back more devolution for Yorkshire - or even embrace it becoming an independent country?